Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-12-08

;umers must return their share ot THIS tncrcas-
"a price To the tradcsman. / think II may be
'airly assumed that large proportion of the
sheep owned by the farmers Throughout the
country are found In small nocks number.
my from y 70 CO. the duty on the grade
II imported wool which these sheep Weld
d ten cents each pound II 40 the value OF
thirty cents or less and twelve cents II the
ralue more than thirty cents. II the liberal
estimate Of six pounds be allowed for each
icece the duty thereon would be 10 or ~
cents and this may he taken rs the utmost IN.
hanccment OF its price TO the farmer by reason
II this duty. Eighteen dollars would thus
represent the increased price OF the wool from
y sheep, and S,6 dollars that from the wool Of
W sheep, and at present values, this addition
would amount 10 about onc-thlrd OF its
price. II upon this scale, the farmer rccclves
This or a less tariff price, the wool leaves his
hands charged with p,ecisely that sum, which
in all Its changes will adhere to II until II
caches the consumer when manufactured
into cloth and other goods and material for
use. Its cost Is not only Increased 10 the cS-
cent Of the farmers tariff profit but a further
sum has been added for the benefit Of the
manufacturer under the operation Of other
tariff laws. In the meantime, TIM day arrives
when the farmer finds II necessary 10 purchase
WOODEN goods and material to clothc himself
and family for the winter. When he faces
the tradcsmsn for that purpose,
be discovers that he Is obliged
creased prices his tariff profit on the wool he
sold aud which then perhaps lies before him In
manufactured form, hut that he must add
considerable sum thereto to meet a further IN
crease In cost, caused by tariff duty on the
manufacture. Thus In the end he is aroused
10 the fact that he has paid upon moderate
purchase as u result OF the tariff scheme which
when he sold his wool seemed so profitable on
Increase In price more than sufficient TO sweep
away all the tariff he received upon nll the
wool he produced and sold. When the number
Of farmers engaged In woo-raiSlng is compared
with all the farmers In the country aud the
small proportion they bear to our population Is
considcred; when II Is made apparent that In
the case of n large part of those who own
saaep the benefit of the present tariff on wool
Is iiit!Snrs, and above all when II must be con.
coded that the Increase OF the cost Of living
caused 10y such tnrill becomes a harden upou
those with moderate means aud the poor, thu
employed and unemployed, the sick aud well
aud the Young and old and that II constitutes
a tax which with rclcntlcss grasp Is fastened
upon the clothing Of every man, woman
aud child IN the land, reasons are sug-
gcsted, why the removal or reduction Of this
duty should be included In revision OF our
tariff laws.
In speaking Of the increased cost TO the con.
sumcr of our home manufactures resulting
from duty laid upon imported articles 0f the
same description, the fact Is not overlooked
ers sometimes has the effect OF keeping the
price Of their products below the highest limit
allowed by such duty. But u Is notorious that
this competition Is too often stranglcd by com.
hinatlons quite prevalent at this time and ire
qucntly called trusts, which have for their ob.
feet the regulation OF the supply and price OF
commodities made aud sold by members Of the
combination. The people can hardly hope for
any consideration IN the operation OF these sci
fish schcmcrs. IT, however, In the absence Of
such combination, healthy and free compc,i-
tIon reduces the prices OF any particular dutl.
able article Of home production below the
limit which II might Otherwise reach under
our arinlaws, and II with such reduced prices
its manufacture continues to thrive, II IL en-
tircly evident that one thing has been dlscOv-
cred and should be carefully ScrutinlZcd IN an
effort to reduce taxation. The necessity OF
combination to maintain the price OF any
commodity 10 the tariii point furnishes proof
that some one Is willing to accept lower prices
for such commodity and That such prices are
rrinuneratire, and later prices produced by
competition prove the same thing. Thus,
where either of these conditions exists, n case
would seem to b. presented for an easy ~.
duction OF taxation. The considerations
which have been presented touching our tnrilr
laws are intended only to enforce IN earnest
recommendation that the surplus revenues VI
the government be prevented by the. reduc-
ton Of our customs duties, and at the same
time to emphasize q suggestion that In accom-
plshing this purpose we may discharge dou-
BILE duty to our people by granting TO them
measure of relief from tariff taxation In quar-
tiers where II Ia most needed ana from sources
where II can be most iairly and Justify nc
corded Nor can the representation made OF
such consideration be with any degree Of
fairness regarded as evidence Of unfriendli-
ness toward our manufacturing interests, or
any lack OF appreciation OF their value and
Importance. These Interests constitute
leading and most substantial element Of our
national greatness. and furnish the proul
proof Of our country's progress. But II In.
the emergency that presses upon Us our
manufacturers are asked to surrender some
thing for the public good and to avert dlsas-
ter, their patriotism rs well as grateful re-
cognition of advantages already afforded
should lead them to willing cooperation.
No demand is made that they shall forego all
benefits OF governmental regard, but they can
not fall to be admonished of their duty, az
well as their enlightened seli-interest and
safety, when they are reminded OF the fact
that financial panic and collapse to which the
present condition tends afford no greater
shelter or protection of our manufacturers
than to our other important enterprises. OPP
portunlty for safe, careful and deliberate re-.
form Is now offered, and none of MS should be
unmindrul Of a time when an abused and
irrltated people, needless Of those who have
resisted timely and reasonable relief, may
insist upon radical and sweeping rectl1cation
OF their wrongs. The difficulty attending
wise and fair revision OF our tarlff laws IL not
understmated. II will require on the part OF
congress great labor and care and especially
broad and national contemplation OF the sub
ject and patriotic disregard Of such local and
selfish claims as are unreasonable and reck-
less of the welfare Of the entire country.
Under our present laws more than four
a II. 10 lat.
of these do not In any way compete with our
manufactures, and many are hardly worth
attention as subjects OF revenue. consid-
cradle reduction can be made In the aggre-
gate by add NJ them to the free li.t. The
tay,t IN Of lusure5 prese ITS no textures VI
hardsaips but 10 necessaries OF life used and
consumed, by all the people, the duty upon
which adds to tue cost OF living In every home,
should be greatly chcarened. The radical
reduction of the duties imposed upon raw
material used In manufactures or It's free
importation Is of course an important factor
In any effort to reduce the price OF Tn ese ne
cessaries. 1t would not relieve them from
the increased cost caused by the tariff on such
material but tne manufactured prJdu i being
thus cheapened that part OF the taif now laid
upon such product as a compensation to our
manufacturers for the present price OF raw
material could he accordingly modified. Such
reductions, or free importation would serve
beside to largely reduce the revenue. II Is
not apparent how such change can have any
Injurious effect upon our manufacture s.
On the contrary II would appear
to give them better chance
In foreign markets with the manufacturers OF
other countries who cheaper their wares by
free material. Thus our people might have
the opportunity of extending their sales be-
yond the limits Of home consumption, saving
them from the depression, interruption In
business and loss caused by a glutted domes-
tic market and atfordng their employees
more certain and steady labor with Its result
Ing quiet and contentment. The question
thus lmperativey presented for solution
should be approached In spirit higher than
partisanshp and considered 10 the light OF
that regard for patr otto duty which should
characterize the action Of those entrusted
with the wealth Of a connding people. But
the obligation to declared party policy and
principle IL not wanting t. urge prompt AMI
effective action. Both Of the great political
parties now represented In the government
have by repeated and authoritative deciara-
ton, condemned the condition OF our laws
which permits the collection IRON the people
Of unnecessary revenue. and have, Ia the
most Solemn manner promised US correction
and neither as citizens nor rs partisans are
our countryman In mood TO condone the
deliberate violation OF those pledges.
Our progress toward a wise conclusion will
not be improved by dwelling upon the theo-
ries Of protection and free trade THIS savers
81. tAG = L.